If you’re anything like me, you probably have a little stash of empty medicine blister packs sitting in a kitchen drawer, whispering to you, “Don’t throw me in the bin!” We all know they can’t go into our kerbside recycling (please, don’t put them in there – it just gums up the works! ), but finding a place to recycle them hasn’t always been easy.

Well, the wonderful volunteers at Sustainable Three Rivers (S3R) have stepped in to save the day.

A New Home at Chorleywood Library

I am so thrilled to announce that Chorleywood Library now has a dedicated collection box specifically for your empty blister packs!

This isn’t just a box; it’s a community effort. The Library will collect the packs, and the S3R team will regularly whisk them away in bulk to central recycling points like Boots in Watford or Amersham. It’s local action at its very best.

Why It’s Worth the Trip

Did you know that packaging accounts for nearly 70% of the UK’s plastic waste? By bringing your packs to the library you’re helping the planet in some pretty amazing ways:

  • No More Kerbside Confusion: It keeps non-recyclables out of our household bins.
  • Reducing Landfill: It keeps these tricky materials out of the ground.
  • Recovering Resources: It allows valuable materials to be recovered and reused.
  • Environmental Protection: It ensures any pharmaceutical residues don’t contaminate our environment.
  • Supporting Local Spaces: It encourages more footfall for our Chorleywood Library.

True Sustainability: It ensures these tricky materials actually get processed correctly rather than sitting in a hole in the ground for 500 years.

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The Magic of Recycling: From Pill Packs to Playgrounds

You might wonder what actually happens to those little foil and plastic bubbles once they leave the library. They are taken to specialists like MYGroup or TerraCycle, where some high-tech magic happens:

  • The Foil: Since aluminum is infinitely recyclable, it’s processed conventionally or used to make metal bars, cans, and bolts
  • The Plastic: This is repurposed into industrial drainage pipes or a clever material called MyBoard™.
  • New Lives: These materials eventually become garden planters, window frames, shop fittings, and even school playground equipment and furniture! 

Joining the Green Revolution

Chorleywood is following in the successful footsteps of our neighbours. Both Croxley Green and Rickmansworth libraries have already set up these stations, and the results have been fantastic. Not only is it keeping waste out of landfill, but it’s bringing more friendly faces into our wonderful libraries.

Libraries have always been the heart of our community, and adding a “green hub” element just makes them even more vital. It’s the perfect excuse to drop off your recycling, browse the shelves, and maybe find your next favourite read while you’re at it.

So, next time you finish a packet of hay fever tablets or your daily vitamins, don’t bin them! Pop them in a bag and bring them along on your next library visit. If you love this new scheme, be sure to let the library staff know at the front desk! Let’s keep the momentum going and show just how much Chorleywood cares about our planet.